Link connector for parachute harnesses



Oct. 18, .1966 D. GOLD 3,

LINK CONNECTOR FOR PARACHUTE HARNESSES Original Filed June 7, 1963INVENTOR Enid ATTORNEY} 3 279 012 LINK CONNECTOR FdR PARACHUTEIIARNESSES David Gold, Tujunga, Calif., assignor to Irving Air ChuteCompany, Inc., Lexington, Ky., a corporation of New lanns. (Cl. 24-73)This application is a division of application Serial No. 286,898, filedJune 7, 1963, which has resulted in the grant of US. Patent 3,154,272,dated October 27, 1964.

This invention relates to a link connector for parachute harnesses andhas more particular reference to the construction of a link whichenables ease of parachute harness adjustment and fit, and safeapplication of the harness upon the body of a parachutist.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a link connectorfor parachute harnesses which is offset to one side thereof in such amanner as to enable safe and comfortable attachment of the variousharness straps whereby the harness webbing portions will have maximumfreedom of movement to conform to the body movements and stature of theparachutist.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an offset linkconnector for parachute harnesses which will enable the straps or websof a parachute harness to adjust readily to the body of a parachutist.Previously it was found that different sized seat slings were necessaryto fit hip and other measurements of the torso of the parachutist. Withthe improved link connector however it is now possible to use a singlesized seat sling assembly to fit different sized parachutists.

Other objects and advantages of this invention may be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the harness specifically described andset forth in US. Patent 3,154,272, above identified, showing theimproved link connectors attached therewith in torso enclosing positionupon the body of a wearer.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of a link connector showing the structuralshape thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a developed view of a sling portion of the parachute harnesslooking from the rear thereof and showing the association of theimproved link connectors with the seat sling, riser webs and leg straps.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on theline 4-4 of FIG. 2.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpoes of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A generally designatesthe harness, more specifically described in US. Patent 3,154,272, aboveidentified. The views, FIGS. 1 and 3, show sufficient characteristicparts of the improved harness A and their association with the improvedlink connector B. The harness A includes a flexible seat sling 20 of thetype of webbing, nylon or equal, conventionally used for harness seatslings. It may be reinforced in any approved manner. It includes anintermediate seat portion 21 to which right and left flexible leg straps22 and 23 are secured as by stitching 24. The seat sling includes theright and left end portions 25 and 26 having fittings 27 and 28 at theends thereof adapted to cooperate with fastener boxes located on theback of a wearer (not shown) and which have been specifically set forthin the co-pending application above mentioned.

United States Patent The leg straps 22 and 23 are provided withconventional snap fasteners 30 having ring portions and movable bars 31through which the adjusting ends of the straps are threaded in a mannerwell known in the parachute art and more particularly shown in US.Patents 2,516,004; 2,405,- 671; 2,192,083 and 2,542,044.

The harness A furthermore includes flexible right and left lift webs 32and 33 the lower ends of which are doubled upon themselves and stitchedat 34. They are threaded through slots 61 of the improved offset linkconnectors B. The ends 25 and 26 of the sling seat 20 are adapted to beadjustably and releasably threaded through the links B. The lift webs 32and 33 are provided with outstanding coupling rings 40 for detachablyreceiving a conventional emergency or reserve pack as set forth in theabove identified co-pending United States application. The lift webs 32and 33 extend upwardly and terminate in riser webs 43 and 44 which alsoextend upwardly and are connected to the shroud lines of the parachutecanopy in a manner well understood in this art.

Right and left shoulder straps or webs 45 and 46 are connected by meansof adjustable adapters 47 of well known construction, mounted on theupper ends of the lift webs 32 and 33. Continuous with these shoulderstraps are right and left riser webs for attachment to the shroud linesof the parachute canopy as set forth in the above identified co-pendingapplication. The lift webs 32 and 33 above the emergency pack connectorrings 40 are connected by a front breast strap construction 55.

The rigid offset link B consists of an upper portion 60 of polygonalring-shaped formation defining an elongated straight line opening 61formed by the straight upper and lower .bars 62 and 63, connectedtogether at their ends by right angledbar portions 70 and 71. FIG. 4shows the cross sectional structure of the bar, which may be polygonal,rounded or of any approved cross sectional shape. The slot 61 isintended to receive the lower end of a lift web 32 or 33 of the harness,as shown in the drawing. Usually the slot 61 lies at an acute angle tothe horizontal. The link B from the bar 63 is provided with spaced sidebars 64 and 65 of straight line formation which are in acute angledrelation with respect to the run of the slot 61, extending either to theright or left, depending upon whether the link is for the right or leftlift webbing.

In FIG. 2 it is shown that the bar 64 is located at an angle of about 60with respect to the run of slot 61, or 60 with respect to the bar 63.The bar 65 is not exactly parallel to the bar 64, but slightly divergesaway therefrom in the direction of the lower end of the link. The bar 64at its lower end is continued at 64 in a straight length portion inobtuse angled relation with respect to the run of the bar 64. This bar64 extends in convergent relation to the bar 65. The bars 64 and 65terminate in a leg strap ring 65 at their juncture having an opening 66for receiving a snap fastener 30 of a leg strap. When the harness isupon the wearer, the bar portion 64 is usually upright or in substantialvertical position and receives thereabout an end portion 25 or 26 of thesling seat in order to best conform the sling seat to the size of thewearer and enable the strap ends to readily slide through the links B,and free themselves from the links at the time of harness releaseaction. The links B are toed inwardly at the front of the wearer asshown in FIG. 1 when the harness is Worn by the wearer to enable acomfortable and a natural attachment of the leg strap snap fasteners tothe ring portion. The ring portion 65 includes a straight line barportion 65 extending from the intermediate portion of the bar 65 to theintermediate portion of the bar 64 and the remaining portion of the ring65 is arcuately formed to define the opening 66.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of 3 parts may bemade to the form of invention herein shown and described withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture an offset link connector for parachuteharnesses comprising a rigid bar-type fitting, shaped to include aslotted upper harness riser web attaching portion, said fittingincluding elongated side bar por- .tions connected at the ends of saidattaching portion and disposed in sidewise acute angled relation withrespect to the upper portion and defining a single elongated openingparalleling said side bars for receiving a sling seat harness strap,said sidewise angled bars having a snap fastener receiving ring portionat the juncture ends thereof, all of said bars lying in the same plane.

2. An ofiset link connector for parachute harnesses as defined in claim1 in which one of said elongated side bars is divided into two barportions which are relatively being disposed in acute angled relationwith respect to the other elongated side bar portion.

3. The olfset link connector as defined in claim 2 in which the snapfastener receiving ring includes a straight cross bar portion connectingwith the obtusely angled bar portion, said elongated side bar portionsat their ends most remote from said attaching portion and beyond saidcross bar portion being convexly curved to define said snap fastenerreceiving ring portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 408,661 8/1889Kennett 5487 438,182 10/1890 Regan 5487 539,533 5/1895 McCahan 5456681,766 9/1901 Williams 24236 1,122,807 12/1914 Sessions 54-87 1,541,7016/1925 Gaunt 2473 disposed in obtuse angled relation, the last mentionedbar 20 WILIAM FELDMAN Pfimary Examine"- portion which is most remotefrom said attaching portion E. SIMONSEN, Assistant Examiner.

1. AS AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE AN OFFSET LINK CONNECTOR FOR PARACHUTEHARNESSES COMPRISING A RIGID BAR-TYPE FITTING, SHAPED TO INCLUDE ASLOTTED UPPER HARNESS RISER WEB ATTACHING PORTION, SAID FITTINGINCLUDING ELONGATED SIDE BAR PORTIONS CONNECTED AT THE ENDS OF SAIDATTACHING PORTION AND DISPOSED IN SIDEWISE ACUTE ANGLED RELATION WITHRESPECT TO THE UPPER PORTION AND DEFINING A SINGLE ELONGATED OPENINGPARALLELING SAID SIDE BARS FOR RECEIVING A SLING SEAT HARNESS STRAP,SAID SIDEWISE ANGLED BARS HAVING A SNAP FASTENER RECEIVING RING PORTIONAT THE JUNCTION ENDS THEREOF, ALL OF SAID BARS LYING IN THE SAME PLANE.